Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 5, 1897

THE CEI/nC MONTHLY:
A MAGAZINE FOR HIGHLANDERS.
Edited by JOHN MAGKAY, Glasgow.
No. 2. Vol. V.]
NOVEMBER, 189G.
[Price Threepence.
COLIN G. MACRAE, W.S., EDINBURGH.
|JTS|H.E subject of this sketch, although now
yjS' resident in Edinburgh, is a devoted
'^^^ Highlander, and is generally acknow-
ledged as the Chief of the Clan. His father,
the late John Anthony Macrae, LL.D., of Well
bank, Forfarshire, was son of Colin ilacrae of
Inverinate, whose family owned for more than
three hundred years that beautiful estate on
the shores of Loch Duich, in Kintail.
Mr. Macrae's mother was .Miss .loauna
Maclean, a lineal descendant on her mother's
side of the Urquharts of Cromarty, and her
father's marble monument forms a conspicuous
object in the Churchyard of Alness, Ross shire.
Mr. Macrae was educated at the Edinburgh
Academy, taking high prizes there, and at the
University of Edinburgh, where he graduated
with honours. When at College he was for
two years President of its Conservative Club,
and took a prominent part in the liectorial
elections of that University. In 1871 .Mr.
Macrae passed as a AV.S., and has since been
actively engaged in business, possessing the
eoutidence of a large and influential number of
clients. He took a leading part in the initiation
of the West Highland l»aihvay for which he
acted as Solicitor, a railway whit;h has already
proved of much value to the ^Vest Highlands,
and has also promoted in Parliament the
extension of bi-anches of that line, first to
Mallaig and more recently to Ballachulish. He
is J ustice i if the Peace for the County of Forfar,
where he owns the estate of Wellbank, and also
for the County of the City of Ivlinburgli.
Mr. Macrae is a]i attached member and
elder of the Church of Scotland, and from his
earliest days took the greatest interest in
helping forward every good object in connection
with it. For many years he conducted a large
Bible class of young men in St. Stephen's
Parish, Edinburgh, usuiiUy numbering over a
hundred, and including a considerable number
of young men from the Highlands, several of
whom* are now in the ministry. His interest in
his boys did not cease when they left his class,
but continues to follow them in their after
life. For ten years he acted as Secretary to
the Highland Committee of the General
Assembly under Principal TuUoch, and was
largely instrumental in placing the work of this
committee on its present satisfactory footing.
That comunttee is well-known throughout the
Highlands for its admirable work in promoting
the highest interest of the people, and many
churches and manses long in a discreditable
state owe their rejiair and restoration to its
efforts. Since 1S77 .Mr. Macrae has almost
continually sat in the General Assembly, having
represented the Presbytery of Islay for twelve
years.
In the education of his fellow countrymen
Mr. JIacrae has always taken a very special
interest, having been a member of a School
Board in nearly every year since the passing of
the Education Act. In 1885 he was elected a
member of the School Board of Edinburgh,
and in every election since has retained his
seat by large majorities. t)u the death of the
late Professor Duff' in 1885 .Mr. Macrae was
appointed chairman of the Board, and has held
that impoitaut oftice ever since.
Mr. Macrae married Flora MaitJand
Colquhoun, daughter of the accomplished
author of "The Moor and the Loch," second
son of Sir James Colquhoun of Cohiuhoun and
Luss, and by his marriage has a son, .John
Anthony Macrae, and one daughter.
F. Maky Colquhoun.
Gaelic Sociutv of London. — Tlie Eiglilh Annual
Scottish Concert liikcs jilncc in tlii> (,lnecn's H.iU,
I'oi-tlancl macf. \V., -u 'JiUli < »rl.>lHT. A most
uL-r
attractive piMi^iaiiinir li
trust that GUI' many re:
attend. The proceeds
prizes for the teaching
schools — a most worthy oliject.
been arranged, and we
in I lie Metropolis will
devoted to jn-oviding
of Gaelic in the Highland